Show Notes
In this fourth week of Advent, Case reflects on the incarnation of Christ as we celebrate Christmas.
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Episode Transcript
The final week of Advent brings us to the threshold of Christmas as we eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth. Reformed theology emphasizes the doctrine of the Incarnation, the miraculous union of God and man in the person of Jesus Christ. As we prepare to celebrate this momentous event, we marvel at the depth of God’s love for us, demonstrated in His willingness to become one of us.
A reading from Hebrews chapter 10, verse 5 through 10.
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”
First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10 speaks profoundly to the significance of Christ’s incarnation, particularly in the context of Christmas. God did not desire the traditional sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament, but instead prepared a body for Christ, who came to fulfill God’s will. This idea is central in the Christmas story, where the birth of Jesus signifies the beginning of God’s ultimate plan for redemption.
In celebrating Christmas, we recognize that the arrival of Jesus was not just a historical event, but a divine intervention aimed at restoring our relationship with God.
Christ’s willingness to come to earth is moving. Just think about that. He embodied God’s will, encapsulated in his declaration, “Here I Am.” This self-offering shows such a profound humility and obedience. Jesus chose to enter the world as a vulnerable infant. In the spirit of Christmas, we are reminded that this season is not merely about the festivities, but about embracing the profound gift of Jesus.
His birth marks the beginning of a new covenant, one that replaces the old sacrificial system with a relationship founded on grace and love. The author of Hebrews notes that through Christ’s sacrifice we are made holy once for all. This concept of completeness is especially poignant during Christmas as it invites us to reflect on the transformative power of Christ’s coming.
The celebration of Christmas reminds me that through Jesus, we’re not only offered forgiveness, but also invited into a renewed life characterized by holiness and purpose. This gift calls us to respond with gratitude, prompting us to share the message of hope and love that Christmas embodies. As we gather with family and friends during the Christmas season, I hope this passage in Hebrews encourages you to embrace the true meaning of our celebrations. It invites us to focus on the relationship we have with God through Christ rather than the material aspects of the holiday. By acknowledging the significance of Jesus’ birth, we find a deeper sense of joy and purpose, echoing the angels’ proclamation of peace and goodwill. Christmas becomes a time to celebrate not just the arrival of a child, but the fulfillment of God’s promise to humanity through the willing sacrifice of His Son.
The Word of the Lord in Micah chapter 5, verse 2 through 5.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace.
A Christmas Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, one of the Desert Fathers.
Glory to your coming, O Lord. Glory to your descent to us from heaven. Glory to the mercy that was seen in your birth. Glory to your goodness that appeared to us. Glory to your compassion that came down and embraced us. Glory to the one who became flesh in the womb of a virgin, but was not confined in the womb by his divinity. Glory to Him whose childhood the ages do not contain, but who contained the ages in His infancy. Glory to the Holy One who was pierced in His side and poured forth the stream of our salvation. Glory to the One who fashioned our humanity and took it on Himself. Glory to the One who gave us life and through His birth renewed our human nature. Glory to Him who made Himself poor to enrich us all who came to seek out the lost and to bring us his kingdom.
A reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, beginning in verse 39.
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
